NASA Invites Media to Tour Wastewater Biofuels Project on April 17

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - Reporters are invited to attend a one-hour guided tour of NASA's Offshore Membrane Enclosure for Growing Algae (OMEGA) system from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. PDT, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant located at 750 Phelps St.

Journalists will see various prototypes of an innovative method to grow algae using a unique floating cultivation system, clean wastewater and carbon dioxide. This method of growing algae could produce biomass suitable as a feedstock for refining biofuels without competing with agriculture for water, fertilizer or land.

Reporters interested in attending must contact Huong Nguyen at huong.nguyen@nasa.gov or 650-604-4789 by 4 p.m. PDT on Monday, April 16, for logistical information.

NASA's project goals are to investigate the technical feasibility of such a floating algae cultivation system and prepare the way for commercial applications.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission manages more than 1,000 miles of sewer pipes and three wastewater treatment plants that serve nearly 1 million residents, businesses, and visitors. As part of its upcoming multi-billion dollar Sewer System Improvement Program, the commission is evaluating various technologies to manage stormwater and wastewater, convert waste into energy, and provide benefits to communities and the environment. The commission has partnered with NASA on the OMEGA project and welcomes collaborations with other organizations as it seeks innovative ways to manage resources.